US Intelligence Assesses Mojtaba Khamenei Pursuing Nuclear Weapons

United States intelligence agencies assess that Mojtaba Khamenei, the new Supreme Leader of Iran, is significantly more interested in acquiring nuclear weapons than his father and predecessor, Ali Khamenei. Based on wiretapped communications and pre-war intelligence, officials report that Mojtaba Khamenei seeks a miniaturized warhead capable of long-range missile strikes, as internal factions now view a nuclear deterrent as essential to prevent further military aggression.

Concurrent with these assessments, Israeli intelligence reports that Iran has moved thousands of centrifuges to Pickaxe Mountain, a fortified underground complex near Natanz designed to resist aerial bombardment. The International Atomic Energy Agency reported that Iran had accumulated over 440 kilograms of 60 percent enriched uranium prior to recent fighting. Director General Rafael Grossi noted that Tehran indicated an intent to operate at the subterranean site as early as 2021.

These developments follow a war that began on February 28 with joint US-Israeli strikes that killed Ali Khamenei. Mojtaba Khamenei was also wounded in a February 28 strike on his compound and has since limited his public appearances. While President Donald Trump considers escalating military campaigns and questions the viability of diplomacy, the Iranian government maintains its nuclear program is peaceful. Spokesperson Esmail Baghaei asserted that nuclear activities have been fully declared to the IAEA.